Switch



Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

ream-5e PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES LYMAN C. JOSEPHS, J11, OF ALLEN'TOWN,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNA- TIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SWITCH.

Application filed June 28, 1923.

This invention relates to a switch designed for the control of a plurality of electrical circuits and characterized by simplicity in construction and operation and adapted, in the preferred embodiment to control sequentially three distinct circuits by a single continuous manipulation or unidirectional movement. lVhile the invention is not to be limited to any particular sphere of use it has been designed primarily with reference to its application to the control of the conventional circuits in and about an internal combustion engine. The embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings shows such an application and the specific description herein will describe the invention, for convenience, in connection with such a use although it will be understood by one skilled in the art, as the description proceeds, that a greater or less number of circuits might be controlled by a switch member having the same general characteristics and these circuits might include other units than those referred to.

In accordance with the invention the switch comprises a single plug element adapted to be slid axially to perform its intended control functions and having in corporated therein conducting and non-conducting sections to make and break the circuits controlled upon movement of the plug. For instance, where the switch is employed in connection with the main power circuit of an internal combustion engine, the magneto therefor and the circuit of the starting motor it may include one insulated section and one conducting section and the terminals of the respective circuits may be so arranged that when the plug is moved axially it will, successively, break the ground on the magneto, complete the main power circuit, and momentarily close the circuit of the starting motor.

A further feature of the invention has to do with the provision of a switch which is operable only by a plug of distinctive cross-sectional form and construction, thereby preventing the surreptitious operation of the switch by extraneous means.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings for a detailed description of the embodiment, by way of example. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in horizontal section through a switch housing and showing the Serial No. 647,865.

improved switch in its relation to the cir cuits controlled.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the switch housing parts being broken out in the interest of clearness.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The switch housing a which may be of any suitable form and material may carry therein insulated bases 6 for the support of opposed spring terminals 7) which, when the improved switch element is removed, engage one another under spring tension and serve to ground the magneto in the circuit of which one of the terminals is connected. Disposed preferably in a plane at right angles to the plane of the terminals 7) and mounted at one side of the housing a is an insulated base on which may be supported opposed spring terminals 0 which remain constantly in spaced .relationship even when the improved plug element is removed. The switch member proper comprises a plug d of elongated form adapted to be moved into the housing through an opening a provided in one end of the wall thereof, the terminals 6, 0, being disposed in such relation to the opening a that when the plug-is moved therethrough it will engage the terminals in the manner described. A handle (Z' to facilitate gripping of the plug may be formed at the outer end. lVhere circuits of the cha 'acter assumed, for the purpose of this description, are to be controlled the inner end of the plug may be formed as an insulated section (l preferably rounded as at (F, and a conducting section 65* which may be formed as a piece of conducting material embracing the periphery of the insulated plug body. To facilitate the operation of the plug inclined section (Z is formed between the sections (Z (Z Opposite the opening a is disposed within the housing a a spring terminal 6 which may be connected to the power source as through one of the terminals 0 and this spring terminal a may be forced against a fixed terminal e mounted in an insulated base 6 and connected to the circuit of some unit to be controlled, such as the starting motor of an internal combustion engine. Normally, the spring terminal 6 is separated from the fixed terminal 6'.

From the description given it is believed that the simplicity of the manipulations irvolved in the use of the improved switch will be fully appreciated. l Vith the plug member (Z retracted to a point where the opposed spring terminals 0 are not in engagement with the conducting section (i it will be evident that the spring terminals Z) may engage one another so as to 'round the magneto and the main power pply controlled through the terminals 0 will be interrupted. In starting an internal combustion motor, for instance, it is necessary not only to connect the main source of power with the various circuits to be su 'iplied but also to break the ground on the magneto before the motor is turned over. This con dition is fulfilled automatically by the unique construction of the improved plug and its relation to the circuits to be controlled in that it is made possible by a single simple unidirectional niovcn'ient ot the plug in the most natural manner to place the various circuits in the desired conditions without any other than one manipulation. For instance, by pushing the plug (Zstraight in the insulated section (Z thereof will first separate the terminals 5 and meanwhile the conducting section (1* will be forced into engagementwith the terminals 0. It is to be understood that all of the terminals and the engaging parts of the plug switch, such as the end d and the tapered section (Z will be oi such configuration as to facilitate the introduo tion and withdrawal of the plug. Continued sliding movement of the plug in the same direction will bring its insulated end (Z into engagement with the spring terminal 6 and the latter will eventually be forced into en gagement with the fixed terminal 6 thereby closing the circuit of the starting motor. Vhen the main motor has caughtand the hand is removed from the handle cl, the spring section of the terminal 6 will be sutficient to retract it from engagement with the terminal 6 and to force the plug rearwardly a short distance to permit such a re traction, but without disturbing the pres viously established conditions with respect to the terminals 6, c.

It will be understood from the description that the parts of the switch are so mounted that it is only by introduction of a plug having the peculiar cross-sectional form and construction that the desired results may be obtained. F or instance, a non conducting section must be interposed between the blades 7) and a conducting section must rest between the blades 0'. It an attempt vere made to operate the switch surreptitiously the necessary conditions could not be established by introduction of either a non-conducting plr member or a conducting plug member since one of the conditions would not be satisfied. Again, for all practical purposes it is likely that the non-conducting end (Z needs to be of less cross-sectional dimensions than the conducting section at since the opposed spring blades L normalh must resume engagementwhile the other b.ades (1 mustnormally remain disengaged. Ii a plug of one diameter were si'iught to be user it is unlikely that i would meet the ditll'erent dimensional relations hus normally maintained.

it will be evident to one skilled in the art that other than those circuits mentioned herein may be controlled to advantage by asimple switch of the character described and that, according to the number of insulated and conducting sections embodied in the switch and the relation of the terminals thereto and the sequence desired in closing or opening them variations may be effected within rat-her wide limits and a greater or less number of circuits than those illustrated may be brought under control. It wil. be also understood that the invention. not to be limited to the particular form and character of the parts illustrated.

What I claim is:

1. A plug switch member movably axially in between two pairs of opposed terminals and engaging at its end a movable terminal ot a third pair of? contacts mounted in line with said plug switch member, said movable terminal. being movable by the plug switch member upon introduction between the two first named pairs 01 terminals.

2. A plug switch member having an insulated section and movable in between a pair of terminals to separate them by said. iusulated section and having a conducting .sec tion movable in between a second pair of terminals to connect them electrically, the

end of said plug switch member being engageable with a movable contact to close a third pair of terminals momentarily, all ol said. conditions being established by a single uni-directional axial movement of the plug member.

3. A. plug switch having one section of smaller cross-sectional area than another section and movable axially into such relation to opposed pairs of terminals that the smaller section will separate and insulate one pair and the larger section will connect an-- other pair.

This specification signed this 18th day ol June A. D. 1923.

LYMAN c. JOSEPHS, 

